We participated alongside MAJA Sportswear, CONANP, UAS and the municipal government of Elota, Sinaloa on the Release of 180 hatchlings, it is estimated that on average around 40 thousands olive ridley sea turtles hatch every season.
At Pronatura Noroeste (PNO) we reaffirm our commitment to the olive ridley sea turtle conservation, when we participate with MAJA Sportswear company, the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (better known by the initials CONANP), the Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS) and the municipal government of Elota, Sinaloa on the release of 180 hatchlings which were gathered and incubated at Playa Ceuta Turtle Conservation Camp.
Juan Carlos Leyva Martinez, our Deputy Director of Liaison, noted that this was a symbolic release that represents the importance of collaborative work in order to protect coastal ecosystems.
“The turtles need to be released on a daily basis, because every day there are new hatchlings”, he stated
A key sanctuary for the olive ridley sea turtle
The nesting season of the olive Ridley sea turtle at Playa Ceuta begins in June and extends until December. Since the average incubation period is 45 days, the release of the hatchlings begins the first half of the month of July, he explained.
“Since July 21 we’ve had daily releases, because the nests that are gathered on June 7 will hatch on July 21 and so on, until the final nest hatches,” he emphasized.
Playa Ceuta is a sanctuary for this species of turtle, but it’s not the only one that comes to nest, the green sea turtle also nests here, and occasionally the leatherback sea turtle does as well.
On average, it is estimated that there are 500 nests per season, each containing a median of 100 eggs, with a hatch rate of 85%, this means that approximately 40 thousand olive ridley sea turtles hatch at this site each year, which highlights the biological importance of this sanctuary.
Collaborative work drives conservation.
Leyva Martinez emphasizes that the sea turtle conservation camp was founded by the Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS) in 1976, and is currently co-managed with the government of Elota. The administration of the Natural Protected Area falls under CONANP. Since 2018, at PNO we have joined as strategic allies in the conservation and management efforts.
“CONANP and the municipality of Elota are in charge of the conservation and management efforts, and the university is in charge of the science efforts” he emphasized, “we contribute to the conservation and management efforts. Everyone is working together at the site”.
One example of our collaboration as PNO was the delivery of an ATV donated by MAJA Sportswear, which is used to patrol the beach in search of nests and to gather eggs that are later transferred to the incubation pen.
On a beach stretching approximately 40 kilometers, this task would be far more difficult to accomplish on foot.
“The conservation camp’s activities include beach exploration, gathering of nests, and transfer of the nests to the incubation pen, monitoring of the eggs and the hatching process. The turtle hatches and it leaves, you cannot keep them from leaving, whether or not there are visitors. They have to go, they look for the ocean”. Stated Juan Carlos Leyva.
Environmental education for the turtle conservation
During the release of 180 hatchlings in which we participated, 19 MAJA Sportswear collaborators and four biology students took part. They received an explanation from biologist Iván Guardado, the site coordinator, about the role of the conservation camp, the operation of the incubation pen, and the processes of nest collection, relocation, and monitoring.
These activities are part of the technical work that supports the conservation of the species, from identifying the nests on the beach to the evaluation of reproductive success, a process known as the nest analysis.
The participants had the opportunity to practice relocating a recently gathered nest and observed the turtles hatching in the incubation pen. Before releasing the groups of hatchlings into the sea, we ensured that no natural predators, such as seagulls, were present.
These activities not only strengthen environmental education but also help to understand the complex reproductive cycle of the olive ridley turtle and the importance of ensuring its survival from its very first journey into the ocean.
A long-term collaboration
Although our direct help to the conservation camp started in 2018, our collaboration in the central-southern region of Sinaloa dates back to 2002 and has strengthened over the years, with the development of conservation projects,such as migratory bird monitoring, the incorporation of the site into the Motus Network, and management actions in protected areas.
The release of these 180 olive ridley turtle hatchlings symbolizes the daily effort of dozens of people and institutions who work every single day so that the sanctuary can continue to fulfill its ecological purpose.
We at Pronatura Noroeste are well aware that the conservation of Playa Ceuta is a continuous effort that requires science, commitment and the active participation of everyone. Every nest we protect, every hatchling that reaches the ocean and every ally that joins us strengthens the resilience of this essential sanctuary for the marine life of Sinaloa.
That is why we invite companies, organizations and interested individuals to join these efforts. Your support, whether through a donation or by becoming a strategic ally, you can make a difference in the protection of the olive ridley sea turtle and the health of our coastal ecosystems. Together we can ensure that Playa Ceuta continues to be a place where conservation and the community can move forward hand in hand toward a more sustainable future.
Translated, reviewed, and edited: Edgar Bolaños.
